ATTEMPTED MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 4 November 1932, Page 6

ATTEMPTED MURDER

MUIR ON TRIAL

SEQUEL TO. SHOOTING AT- ROSS

A 3 a sequel to the shooting iaffray at' itbss i-A the early fkmrii or t-.e morning or'-'Sepffeinber Btlu, Wi.hum George Muir his trial in the Alagistrahes’ Court at HhKitika today when he was- charged' with the attempted murder of Athol' Orowe Hotter, i'he ca-,e was heard" before Mr- W. Ale.dh m, S:AT. Accused Svas represented by Mr G. J. P; Sellers, and all the- witnesses in tlie case were instructed to leave the Court. Detec ei ve-Ser g-'eant T. E. Holmes conducted the case for the police.

Joseph \Vm. Alclntyre, chief draughtsman of the Land and Survey department at Hokitika, and-a regif-te-red surveyor, said that on -September 12th., at the request 'of- the police he visited" 7 Reas in company with Mr Sell rs, and made a- ground plan of the locality pointed cut to him by the police:, and the figures on the plan (produced) represented places pointed cut} by F'"ghet, No. 1 was where apeused was alleged to h ave been standing,' No-. 2, where Potter was and No. 3 the place where Higliet was standing. The. distance between 1 and 2 ; was lift. 6ins ; , and between 2 ,and-3 was 9ft, He had also drawn -a. ; rough sketch of the bouse,' and a plan of the town of Boss, showing t-lle Commercial Hotel,; Muir’s and Peebles’ sections. The distance from -the Hotal to Peebles! section, was 13 chains;3Bft. and. from, Peebles’ to. Muir’s sections 7 obtains 17f.t. To Mr Selliars-: The distance- fromBeid’s window to where Highet wag standing was 33ft-. Hr. Basil 1 . Wilson; said that- on Sktember. 9th. he- Kadi certain; X-ray photographs t-ken of the injured' man (produced). These disclosed the front add s'de views-of th-e- abdomen-, showing the bullet and the position of tine entrains wound: On the morning -of SeptembAp Bth., the injured man first ibame under his notice, being-brought to his ’sni'o-ery by- the- police. Hoi examined him and- foiu\d’. him suffering from a wound' over the crest- oftbe left’ hip, such as could 1 have 'Hen* marie by the- entrance of* a .22 rifle bullet, and he ordered his removal to the Hospital. An operation- was jierfOrmed the satne' day, disclosing a 'bpirferation of tile- large bowel on the i left side, and P-btter’s condition- was very serious. His condition gradually <rot worse, and' on- September 11 til., she scarcely had a chance: He had ari operation on the Saturday, TOfrK.. and a further one oh the Sunday, the 1.1 th., and afte ■ that' date' his " coni' dition gradually improved until he was sufficiently recovered to undergo' aPi operation for the removal of' the bullbi?' on Tuesday, November Ist. The bullet went in horizontally, and its no e had boon flattened:, which- assisted. perie* tration. At the present time, the patient!* condition., was fairly good, although the region of the wound was .still inflamed, which might yet lend toi further trouble.

To, Mr Sellers: His chirper*;-, of recovery were now. very favourable <ah though hi® general fitness would not b»v as good as it was before,.

1 Detective-Sergeant Holmes, told the Bench that; the bullet had' to he referred to .an expert for. examination yet, arid;, would, not he included in the exhibits at; this hearing../ Constable P. D. Dougherty said that oh - September 13th., he " took. photWwraphs'ifat Boss, acting: on inr. structions,. and, therse had, been on* larged (produced). These included the front, view.- of Peebles’ bach and Reid’s; house, in Moorhouse Street, the footpath and. section; and! Peebles’ bach, and the roadway' end; footbath of M-oorhouse Street'opposite Peebles’ •section. On September 12, 13 and-14, witness, with Co ; n,stable Crowley, made a ; thorough search of the. footpath, rrddway and’-'water ra-cte in. front of. Peebles’; bach, also the adjoining sections, bub could, net find; any, trace jof-a. partridge case. ! To Counsel': Hfe searched in front • of. ‘the.■•house--ns far as."the raodway, the adjoining sections,, and, the water race for about three parts of a mile, ■ Tlib. Court adjourned! at 1 p.nn unsl on resinilingj proceeded; to deal, With a dispute among ’ whitebait ' fishermen, op Miihinypua', Creek ■ which was proceeding when, wn went to press.